January 21, 2010 — Haitian Relief Effort
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
Campus is abuzz again and it is wonderful to have our students and faculty back. It is my hope that everyone is settling into the routine of a new semester after an enjoyable holiday break.
We are all saddened to learn about the catastrophic events in Haiti in the past week. This tragedy reminds us of just how quickly life can change but also how people from every background can work together for a common and worthy cause.
Fourteen UL Lafayette students call Haiti home and have been personally affected by the earthquake. Some of the students are thankful to have received the wonderful news that their parents are alive. Others have not yet received any word from their families. All have lost their family homes.
In addition to worries about their loved ones in Haiti, these students are also concerned about their immediate future since they are dependent on their families back home in Haiti for financial support.
The students have decided that their best course of action at this time is to remain here and to continue their studies. Most will struggle to pay their basic living expenses, in addition to tuition and books.
We have received numerous calls and emails from our campus community asking what they can do to help our Haitian students. The Dean of Students Office, the International Student Office, local clergy, and university administrators are working together to provide assistance to our students during this very trying time, but your help and generosity are needed. Accounts at the UL Credit Union and UL Foundation have been established to benefit this cause. By following this link to the UL Foundation, you may donate online: (Please scroll down the web page to select Haitian Relief Fund.)
http://ullafayettefoundation.org/Product/Default.asp
Or, you can stop by the UL Credit Union to make a donation in person (please remember to specify the Haitian Relief Fund). Every dollar is important – just think, if each person on campus donated just $1, we could raise nearly $20,000 with very little effort.
In the days to come you may hear of other efforts to assist our students. Please direct any questions you may have to deanofstudents@louisiana.edu or 337/482-6276. We encourage you to be as generous as you can.
Sincerely,
E. Joseph Savoie
President
president@louisiana.edu